General

Adress
Entry prices
Opening Times
Accessibility
Museum history
Location of the Museum

Adress

Grachtweg 2a
2161 HN Lisse
Holland
Tel: 0252 417900
Fax: 0252 422894
e-mail: museum.dezwartetulp@12move.nl

A fascinating museum in Lisse - Holland

The 'Black Tulip' Museum is situated in a splendidly restored, old building in the heart of Lisse. It shows the history of the Bulb District as well as the origins and the development of bulbiculture.

The museum paints an enthralling picture of the remarkable bulb to flower to bulb cycle by means of:

pictures, photos and videos on the working of the soil for bulbiculture

bulbiculture artifacts and interiors of bulb sheds

a small specialised library.
A visitor's guide to the permanent exhibition is available in 6 languages.
Each year the museum has a number of special exhibitions.
A visit to the museum can be easily combined with a visit to Keukenhof flower gardens in Lisse, or with a trip to The Hague or Amsterdam.

Downstairs, there is a small shop with a selection of goods and books relating to bulbs and the Bulb District.

The Black Tulip Museum has two splendid rooms in Dutch Neo-Renaissance style, in which you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Originally the Board Rooms of a nearby brick company, they can be hired for functions, for which there is a complete catering service available.

On request, the following videos can be shown in the Refreshment Room:

Growing Colours, about modern trade and cultivation (25 mins)

The 40th Flower parade 1987 (35 mins)

Bulbiculture in 1930 (70 mins, black/white)
There are some childrens'videos available.
Our volunteers are happy to serve you with coffee, tea or a soft drink.

Entry prices

Adults	€ 5,00
Children (6 - 16 years)	€ 3,00
65+ cards, CJP	€ 3,00
Groups of 20 or more p.p.	€ 3,00
Primary school groups: children	€ 1,00
Primary school groups: adults	€ 1,50
Guided tours extra (20 persons max.)	€ 25,00
All prices include 6% BTW (VAT)

Museum Card: free entry for the card holder.
Friends of the Museum: free entry for 2 people.
The Black Tulip Guild members: free entry.

The above tariffs apply during normal opening hours.
Groups may visit the museum outside these hours by appointment. Tariffs on request.

Openings Times

Tuesday to Sunday (inclusive): 1300 hours to 1700 hours.
Groups can arrange to visit the museum at other times by appointment.
Closed on the final Thursday in September, on November 25th, on December 5th and from December 15th till January 18th.

Accessibility

Downstairs people in wheelchairs have a good accessibility. For reaching the first floor one chair-stair-elevator is available. Upstairs close to the stairs a wheelchair is available. Upstairs there are several floorlevels which are connected via slope-paths.
A parking spot is in the close vicinity of the museum

The history of the museum

In the early eighties the Museum The Black Tulip was raised out off a particular initiative.

Bulbiculture, the leading economic activity of the district, was changing totally: mechanisation, specialising and scalechanges. Manual labor became history. Everything was renewed and old tools were thrown away.

The Museum for the Bulb District Foundation was established in June 1980. In the centre of the village of Lisse the old building of the bulbiculturefirm Gebr.v.d.Zaal was empty, almost a ruin, ready to be demolished. It was owned by the local council. On request the new Foundation acquired the ownership. Some enthusiastic people began a collection of old bulbiculture artifacts and, with the support of "professionals" the museum was set up.

The aim of the museum was to show the history of the Bulb District from its geological start and present in it the context of men development of bulbiculture. Besides that the museum has built a small art collection of amongst others hyacinthglasses and pictures which are well worth a visit.

The museum was opened on august 30th 1985.

In 2000, the Foundation purchased the house of the family Van der Zaal. It will be possible to enlarge the museum with a characteristic building near to the present building. The museum will have the change to exhibit its unique collection of bulbdrawings. A unique Directors' Board Room, over hundred years old, from the van Herwaarden Brick Company will be re-erected into the new acquisition.

The museum is totally administered (by about 80) volunteers, note what is all has to be done: the management, welcoming visitors, providing guiding tours on request, the shop, the coffeeroom, etc. All is done by a daily varying group of 4 volunteers. This arrangement has been successful in operation about 18 years.

Location of the museum